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Gold/Mining/Energy : ABER RESOURCES -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: teevee who wrote (1356)	4/13/1999 12:35:00 PM
From: Grant Baker	Read Replies (3) \| Respond to of 2006

For what they are worth, a few comments about the GNWT Dept. of Transportation's "leaked" all weather road planning study: 1. IMHO I don't believe that the cost estimate for the northern route includes the port development costs, which could change the economics of that option significantly. I believe that the cost comparison was based on the number of kilometers of road construction only, not the total project costs. 2. The cost estimate of $500,000 per km is in my opinion low. Actual costs will probably be more like $1 million per km. GNWT Transportation is currently rebuilding 13 km of highway between Yellowknife and the next community, Rae/Edzo. 6.5 km new construction, 6.5 km re-construction over existing roadway. Estimated costs: just under $12 million. (Granted, this is chip-seal, not an all weather gravel road, but then this project is not being built in the middle of the barrens either.) 3. If the northern route is economically viable based upon projected traffic counts and expected toll charges, why hasn't the IZOK lake project been developed yet? Because it doesn't make economic sense yet! 4. By recommending the northern option the GNWT conveniently shifts the development aspects of this project over to the Gov. of Nunavut. And realistically, Nunavut can not afford to develop this project right now - they have too many other higher priority projects. 5. The proposed routes, northern road and port facility or southern road options, will not get built without financial support from Ottawa. Neither the GNWT or Nunavut can afford to develop these routes on their own. Is Ottawa ready to spend a minimum half a billion dollars right now? Don't hold your breath waiting for the answer....... Have a good day. GB